Ronaldo: Brazilians expected more from Neymar

Brazil legend and World Cup winner Ronaldo Nazario has revealed Neymar's hotly debated performances at the World Cup fell what himself and the rest of the country had expected from the PSG Star player.
The Canarinha's talisman who was widely tipped to lead Brazil to glory prior to the tournament and also built up as Brazil's big hope for success in Russia could not help his country progress beyond the quarter finals after losing 2-1 to Belgium as the South American nation long to win the World Cup, the title that has eluded for 18 years

Neymar bagged twice during the World Cup and also made one assist in five games, could not live to the expectations of many Brazilian and football fans across the world. Brazil who were considered the tournament favourite, were not outstanding through out the course of the tournament.

Neymar missed the last three months of the club season after breaking his foot in February, although he was able to get fit in time for the World Cup, two-time World Cup winner Ronaldo believes the injury lay-off prevented the 26-year-old reaching his full potential in Russia.

Ronaldo explained: 'We all expected more from him because he's the star of the team. I don't know if it was because of the operation he had on his foot or another problem but I saw him as quite limited on the pitch.

'To arrive at a World Cup following an operation and three months out is complicated. To play the first match as if nothing had happened is difficult. He needs to learn from this World Cup. He's 25 or 26. He's young, talented and there's a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.'

Neymar would was expected to launch his quest for the ballon d'Or with a spectacular performance in the World Cup and especially after the elimination of Ronaldo and Messi in the tournament did not live up to expectations. He best he could do was to make headlines for spending time on the floor more than making telling contributions with the ball at his feet:

Ronaldo revealed that he has previously had words with Neymar about his tendency to go down.
"I asked him five years ago and he explained that on many occasions when he's kicked he reacts in that way so that the blow isn't greater," Ronaldo confessed.
"That also happened to me, I felt that I was treated unfairly when I was kicked and they wouldn't blow the whistle."

In the same vein, Brazil football legend and World Cup winning captain said football fans have beginning to doubt the PSG ace after his performance against Belgium.
"We all expected a lot from him, because Neymar is a fantastic player and we expected different things from him on the pitch," Cafu said.

"That is normal and that is why the criticism has fallen on him for everything that happened. His performance wasn't what we expected, it was a little less than what people expect from a fantastic player.

"Neymar is the best Brazilian player of recent times, but because of 30 minutes we question everything that Neymar has done throughout his career. The World Cup is like that, it doesn't forgive, but he is smart and he will surely recover."

Expecting someone whose been out injured for 3 months to bear the weight of a nation on his shoulders and lead them to a World Cup victory to me is an inordinate desire.
Neymar tried his bit which was far from been good enough.